Highways play a crucial role in transportation systems, connecting regions and promoting trade and economic development. Choosing the right materials for road construction is a key factor that affects the durability, safety, and efficiency of the roadway.
Cement roads have a high load-bearing capacity and resist wear from vehicle friction, making them especially suitable for routes with heavy traffic. The average lifespan of a cement road can reach up to 50 years, which is longer than asphalt roads. After construction, cement roads require less maintenance compared to asphalt roads, saving on operational and maintenance costs.
Additionally, cement roads have better high-temperature resistance compared to asphalt roads, making them ideal for areas with hot climates. The surface of cement roads has a high roughness, which enhances vehicle grip, especially important in rainy or slippery conditions.
However, cement roads have low elasticity and are prone to cracking under strong impacts or sudden temperature changes. The repair process is also complex and costly.
Cement roads have low elasticity and are prone to cracking under strong impacts.
Thanks to their solid structure and high durability, cement roads offer better wear resistance compared to asphalt. They can withstand heavy loads and high traffic density over long periods without damage or deformation.
The reason asphalt surfaces are often chosen for highways is primarily due to their outstanding advantages.
Firstly, asphalt surfaces can be constructed very quickly, significantly reducing the time required to pave a highway. They also facilitate faster traffic restoration, greatly aiding in alleviating traffic congestion.
Moreover, laying asphalt requires less manpower and time compared to building cement roads, meaning construction costs are lower.
Asphalt surfaces have many outstanding advantages.
Asphalt has high ductility and elasticity, effectively absorbing the impact forces from vehicles. However, its wear resistance is lower than that of cement, particularly under high traffic conditions and heavy loads.
Secondly, maintenance and repair of asphalt surfaces are also very straightforward and convenient. Only a few simple tools are needed for maintenance and repair, which can significantly save both time and costs.
Furthermore, due to the relatively short duration of maintenance and repair work, the impact on traffic and vehicles can be minimized during these processes, making daily commutes more convenient.
Additionally, asphalt surfaces have a very important advantage: they can significantly reduce vehicle noise while also diminishing vibrations caused by vehicles driving on them.
Maintenance and repair of asphalt surfaces are very simple and convenient.
Asphalt is cheaper than cement in terms of materials and construction. The installation of asphalt roads is also quicker and easier, helping to save time and construction costs.
The soundproofing and shock absorption efficiency of asphalt surfaces comes from the excellent flexibility of asphalt, which can better absorb vibrations caused by vehicles. Compared to cement surfaces, asphalt surfaces are softer, resulting in lower friction between the tires and the road. This can significantly reduce the noise generated by vehicles while driving.
Thus, the noise from vehicles running on asphalt is much lower than that from vehicles on cement.
In some special cases, asphalt surfaces can better protect the road quality, such as during peak traffic times and congestion when a large number of vehicles are on the road. The pressure exerted by vehicles on the surface means that during these times, the softer asphalt can provide better protection, reducing damage caused by vehicles to the surface while also minimizing the impact of road damage on vehicles. These advantages make asphalt widely used.
Asphalt is cheaper than cement in terms of materials and construction.
Asphalt can be laid in multiple thin layers, making it easier to adjust the height and slope of the road. This is particularly important for highways with complex terrains. When damaged, asphalt can be repaired more easily and quickly than cement. Patching potholes or replacing worn asphalt usually only takes a few hours, while repairing cement can take days or even weeks.
However, asphalt surfaces also have some disadvantages, most notably their inability to provide good reflectivity to a certain extent due to their rough surface, which poses certain difficulties for night driving.
Therefore, for drivers who frequently drive at night or work night shifts, driving on asphalt may be more challenging compared to cement roads. Especially in areas with low road brightness and no street lights, the asphalt surface, which does not easily reflect light, can pose certain dangers while driving, even threatening driving safety.
Thus, during highway construction, appropriate measures must be taken to handle reflective signs to ensure they can still perform their reflective role at night, thereby minimizing dangers while driving at night.
Driving on asphalt can be more difficult for those working night shifts.
The smooth surface of asphalt is quieter than that of cement, helping to reduce noise caused by traffic. This is an important factor for densely populated areas or near noise-sensitive locations.
